PAUL KOSTENKO

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PAUL KOSTENKO Suddenly, on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, Paul Kostenko, aged 90 years of Winnipeg. Paul was born on February 20, 1916 in selo Bat'ky, Poltava region in Ukraine, to a hardworking farming family of ten brothers and four sisters. In 1930, his family was driven from their home during the communist terror-repressions and were only spared exile to Siberia because there was no transport available. Paul was a witness and a survivor of the Famine-Genocide of 1932-33. He was swollen from hunger and near death, but miraculously survived. His parents, younger siblings and many cousins - 31 members of his family - perished from hunger in a land of plenty. It was always his fervent wish that the world should know about the horror that was inflicted upon the innocent Ukrainian people. In 1948, Paul immigrated to Canada where he found freedom, peace and contentment at last. He worked for Monarch Lumber for 16 years and then for the City of Winnipeg, Parks and Recreation Department until his retirement in 1981. Paul was a lifelong, dedicated member of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of Winnipeg. He loved his church, his people, and his traditions. He had an especially keen ear for music and was known to sing the tenor part in favourite folk songs in harmony with friends. He longed for the day when his beloved Ukraine would become truly free and was equally ever grateful for all the blessings of life in Canada - his adopted home. Left to cherish his memory are many nieces and nephews and their families in Canada, Argentina and Ukraine. He also cared deeply for his Goddaughters, Gloria Wasyluk-Paley of Vancouver, and Sonia Lebedin and her family in Winnipeg. We will miss him dearly. Funeral service will be held 9:30 a.m. Monday, November 20 at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, 1175 Main St. with Very Rev. H. Lakusta officiating. Interment will follow in Glen Eden Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul's memory to the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral. VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 18, 2006